Aussie bats lean on calm Khawaja

Test opener has silenced his doubters as Australia's best player against spin in Dubai

AAP

11 October 2018, 08:34 AM

Day wrap: Fighting Aussies face up to salvage job

The idea of Usman Khawaja handing out advice on how to bat in Asia may have once raised eyebrows but the left-hander has proven to be Australia's shining light in the UAE.

Australia's slim hopes of salvaging a draw on day five of the first Test against Pakistan rest heavily with Khawaja, who will resume on 50 alongside debutant Travis Head (34no) with the tourists trailing by 326 runs at 3-136.

Concerns about Khawaja's poor record on turning tracks meant he was overlooked during last year's Test series in India and dropped after one Test in Bangladesh.

But the Queensland opener top-scored with 85 in the first innings in Dubai and he again dug in grimly in the second dig, surviving a collapse in which Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and Mitch Marsh all fell without Australia adding to their score.

Khawaja used the reverse sweep to great effect // Getty

With Australia's batsmen preaching the need to bat for time, Khawaja endured 175 balls in the calamitous first innings and has faced 120 in the second.

The 31-year-old's changing fortunes are best exemplified by the guidance he provided after Australia lost 10-60 on day three.